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Hang out at de Young Museum

De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. Current exhibitions, the Hamon Tower observation deck, and why the building itself is art.

· art · de-young-museum · museum · rooftop-view · free-admission · san-francisco

The de Young Museum sits in Golden Gate Park, surrounded by trees instead of city blocks. The building itself is wrapped in perforated copper panels that have oxidized to a green patina over time. We saw a Judy Chicago performance here in 2021. The Hamon Tower observation deck on the ninth floor is free to visit, and it gives you views over the park, the Richmond, and out to the ocean.

Inside, the permanent collection covers American art, textiles, and works from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The galleries mix old and contemporary in unexpected ways. We saw chairs on display that looked more like sculptures than furniture. Hard to tell what was art and what was furniture.

Two minimalist black wooden chairs with open backs viewed from above on a warm wood floor at de Young Museum

One exhibit featured work by San Francisco-based artists. The scale of the pieces filled the room—large figurative sculptures you could walk around and study from different angles.

Large figurative sculpture of a fallen soldier-like figure lying on a gallery floor at de Young Museum

[!TIP] The Hamon Tower observation deck is free, no museum ticket needed. First Tuesday of every month is free general admission.

The de Young pairs well with the California Academy of Sciences across the concourse if you want a full day in the park. General admission is $15, and the first Tuesday of every month is free.